California Biographies
Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper
This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm
Source:
History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California
With Biographical Sketches
History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry
Illustrated, Complete In One Volume
Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914
CHARLES McKINLEY.� The McKinley ranch in Loconoma valley,
northwest of Middletown, has the distinction of being the oldest improved
farm in Lake county occupied continually from the time of its original settle-
ment to the present by one family. The widow and three of the children of
George E. McKinley, who was the first permanent white settler in the valley,
live there now. In the course of a successful life the late Mr. McKinley
acquired a number of valuable interests, and his various business affairs are
being continued by his sons, who have incorporated under the name of
McKinley Brothers for the more convenient management of the estate. The
Callayomi Flour Mills and the Callayomi & Middletown Electric Light &
Power Company are among the enterprises controlled by this concern, as well
as the McKinley ranch, which is on the Middletown road about three and
a half miles from that town.
George E. McKinley was a native of New Brunswick, born August 9,
1837. When he was five years old his parents moved to Burlington, Iowa,
where they resided until 1849, then settling on a farm near by, upon which
they remained until 1852. That year George E. McKinley crossed the Rocky
mountains, and for four years was employed in the stock business. In 1856
he came to California, and after a few months spent in Plumas county pro-
ceeded to Lake county, arriving in December of that year. Before long he
went into Napa valley, but returned in the summer of 1857 and settled on
the place in Loconoma valley which has since been known as the McKinley
ranch. Its three hundred and twenty acres comprise valuable hay, grain,
grazing and timber lands, which became highly developed and productive
under his intelligent care. Many years before his death he bought from
Andrew Rocca the flour mills now known as the Callayomi flour mills, which
had been built in 1887 by Mr. Rocca, and the McKinleys in about 1906 installed
the water power and electric light plant at the mill which furnish light and
power to Middletown.
Mr. McKinley led an earnest and useful life, and the example of his
industry and unpretentious but worthy efforts was a permanent influence for
good in his community. His kindly attitude toward all his fellow men, his
hospitable nature and neighborliness, attracted the regard of a large circle of
friends and acquaintances, and the high standing he enjoyed was due as much
to his sterling personal qualities as to the material success which rewarded
his work. He was a consistent member of the Church of Latter Day Saints
of Jesus Christ, to which faith his family also adhere.
On December 10, 1862, Mr. McKinley married Miss Caroline Springston,
a native of Pennsylvania, who was twelve years old when she came to Cali-
fornia with her parents. Mrs. McKinley, now seventy-one years of age, is
still living at the old ranch home near the mill, with her sons, Charles and
Archie L., and daughter, Frances. Though she has lost her eyesight, she
retains the cheerful, considerate disposition which has won her the loving
esteem of all who know her, and is happy in the affection of family and friends.
Her interest in the household is continued as far as possible. Ten children
were born to Mr. and Mrs. McKinley : Sidney H., the eldest, is secretary,
treasurer and manager of the corporation known as McKinley Brothers, and
is represented elsewhere in this volume. Ella died when two years old. George
A., who lives near Yountville, Napa county, is a stockholder in McKinley
Brothers Corporation ; he married Florence Evelyn Wood, of Alameda, and
they have three living children, Clifford, Horace and Margaret Elizabeth.
Eva, who is living at Fresno, Cal., is the wife of E. Frank Yount, a merchant,
and their three children are Inesse, Frances and Dorothy. Ada is the wife of
W. L. Kellum, a capitalist, of Spokane, Wash., and has two children, Carroll
and Ruth. Lillie died unmarried at the age of thirty-two years. Mary is
married to Darrington Christopher, of Alameda, a bookkeeper, and
they have one child, Bernice. Charles, Archie L. and Frances E.
live at home. The three last named were born on this ranch,
where they reside with their mother, the sons operating the farm
and the daughter having the management of the household affairs. They
give their mother loving attention. She is one of the oldest surviving pioneers
in her section of the county and when in a reminiscent mood it is interesting
to listen to her experiences of early days, times fraught with trials and hard-
ships, to say nothing of dangers from wild beasts that abounded in great
numbers. Mr. McKinley died December 5, 1906.
William and Nancy (Todd) Springston, Mrs. McKinley's parents, were
natives of Ohio and Pennsylvania, respectively, and married in the latter
state. Her grandfather Springston, who fought in the Revolution, was
drowned soon after the close of the war. After living for a time in Michigan,
near Hillsdale, the Springstons moved to Lyons, Iowa, where William Spring-
ston was employed on the railroad. In 1854 he brought his family as far
west as Utah, where they remained over winter, in the spring continuing their
journey to California, where they arrived in 1855. Eventually, during the
fifties, they settled in Cobb valley, in Lake county, stopping on the Smith
place, and their first home there was a log house. Mr. Springston was a man
of character and force, and he became an influential citizen of the Middletown
precinct, where he was the first justice of the peace. He lived to be sixty-two
years old, the mother to the age of sixty-nine.
Charles McKinley, third son in the family of George E. and Caroline
Springston) McKinley, has passed all his life on the homestead where he
now lives with his mother and one brother and sister. He had common school
advantages and unlimited practical training for his life work, he and his
brothers having always taken a hand in assisting their father, whose various
undertakings they are now carrying on. Soon after his death, which occurred
about eight years ago, they became associated under the name of McKinley
Brothers, incorporating under the laws of the state of California in order to
take over the paternal interests and manage them to the best advantage. This
means, besides the cultivation of the ranch, the operation of the Callayomi
Flour Mills and the Callayomi & Middletown Electric Light & Power Com-
pany, and they are capitalized at $21,000, half of the stock being owned by
their mother, Mrs. Caroline McKinley. Charles is president, Sidney H. secre-
tary, treasurer and manager, and they with Archie L. McKinley comprise the
board of directors. The mill, which is situated on the Lakeport road, does
a thriving business, the brothers dealing in wheat and graham flour, bran,
mill stuffs, rolled barley, etc. The farm, which Charles and Archie L. Mc-
Kinley manage, is devoted to grain and stock. Though a busy man, Charles
McKinley has the characteristic family trait of enterprise, and interests him-
self in the questions of the day, finding time to enjoy reading for general
information. He is unassuming and modest concerning his work, but his
value is properly estimated by his fellow citizens, who regard him and his
brothers as creditable successors to their honored father. Like him they
are agreeable as neighbors and reliable in all their dealings. Politically they
give their support to the measures advocated by the Democratic party.
Fraternally he is a member of the American Order of Foresters.